On 19 and 20 May 2011, an expert conference was held in Sofia to discuss the regulatory framework for the functioning of the private enforcement agents’ system in Bulgaria. As the conference was also the last activity of the project, it marked the completion of the almost three-year Matra project “Strengthening the privatized system of civil enforcement in Bulgaria”. The immediate reason for the conference can be found in the publication of the “Legal Framework Analysis of the Civil Judgment Enforcement in Bulgaria and Recommendations for its improvement”, an analysis commissioned by the project. A small group of Bulgarian experts, supported by the project’s key expert, prepared the report and presented its findings at the conference. On behalf of the Bulgarian Government, the Deputy-Minister of Justice Mrs. Janeta Petrova attended the conference. The International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) was represented by its President Leo Netten. Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Martijn Elgersma participated on behalf of the Dutch Embassy in Sofia.
In order to discuss the findings of the authors of the legislative analysis in a comparative setting, experts from Estonia, Georgia, Macedonia, the United States of America shared their views and experiences along with the Dutch key expert and CILC’s project leader.
The problems and challenges identified by the authors have legal, technical as well as political backgrounds. As a result of the conference, the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice invited the Bulgarian Chamber of Private Enforcement Agents to further discuss a number of the problems identified. Furthermore, as a result of the conference the Bulgarian Chamber of Private Enforcement Agents agreed to have a further meeting with the Public Revenues Agency to discuss a number of common problems. In order to facilitate a further discussion on the necessary changes of the Bulgarian Code of Civil Procedure and a number of tax laws and other laws, the regulatory analysis will also be disseminated among Bulgaria’s legal community, relevant governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations in the coming weeks.